The nuns in this silly good-natured French comedy say far worse things than the film’s title. And that’s the trouble with the movie – it derives most of its laughs from a belief in the inherent amusingness of nuns – the idea that putting a woman in a habit and a veil is instantly funny. It’s the story of convent of nuns entering a road cycling race to win the €25,000 prize – the only glitch is that none of them have been on a bike in years. Nuns on bikes. Hilarious! Nuns falling off bikes. Side-splitting!
Mother superior Véronique (Valérie Bonneton) is the driving force behind the convent’s bid for cycling glory. Her worthy motive is to raise funds to refurbish an old people’s home. But really, she’s in it for a trip to Rome; her daydreams of hanging out at the Vatican, taking selfies with Pope Francis (acted by a pretty decent lookalike) are the funniest scenes in the movie. Véronique presides over a convent of slummy sisters, and the characterisation leans towards cartoonish. Theres’s naive nun Béatrice (Guilaine Londez) who sees miracles everywhere, and pious Augustine (Camille Chamoux) who has a racy past. Rebellious novice Gwendoline is the team’s Mark Cavendish.
The movie puts a holy spin on the classic underdog sports movie. The nuns’ rivals for the prize are highly proficient cyclists from another convent where Véronique’s arch-enemy is the mother superior. Nothing here is subtle as the nuns slug it out for victory, both sides resorting to underhand tricks. It becomes annoying quickly, lumbered with cheap laughs and sloppy gags.
• Oh My Goodness! is in UK cinemas from 14 March.
